Manufacture of sterile catgut.



F. KUHN. MANUFAGTURE 0F STBRILE GATGUT. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 31, 1910.

FRANZ KUHN,

3 ATNT FFll'QE.

or casser.,

GERMANY.

MANUFACTRE OF STERILE CATGUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ct. 24, 1911i.

Application filed October 31, 1910. Serial No. 590,025.

purposes, sterile while .working it up into' the well known threads or cords, and the invention essentially consists in handling the catgut material solely mechanically within a suit-able receptacle filled with a protective medium.

Catgut cords for chirurgical purposes are now obtained by treating the thin skins or l guts in potash, slinging several of them over a hook and twisting them together b means of suitable device into a cord. Du ing this process the vmaterial is freely handled by the operator and is readily exposed to other septic infection or contagion.

According to the present invention the material, z'. e. the loose gut skins, as well as the finished article, the twisted, tough cord, is treated solely mechanically within a receptacle filled with a disinfecting medium, either liquid or gaseous, and if desired also with a dressing or tanning solution, separately or in combination with the disinfectant.

In order to make my invention more readily understood, I will now describe it with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows apparatus suitable for handling the catgut according to my new method.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section through aa sterilizing and drying device; Fig.l 2 shows an end View thereof, and Fig. 3 a detail, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of another form of sterilizing apparatus. A

Referring to the construction illustrated 1n on horses 20 and is of a length greater than that of the longest 'catgut threads to be turned out. A glass rod 24 is removably held in a block 23 within the basin, and ay slmilar glass rod 25 finds its support in the basin wall. Notches 26 are provided in the opposite longitudinal walls of the basin for receiving thesuitably` cranked glass rods Fig. 4, the shallow basin 21 is supported 27. In one end wall 22 are water-tightly journaled the shafts or spindles 33, 34 carrying hooks 35, 36 and small pulleys 31, 32 respectively, which latter are driven from the big pulley 28 with handle 29 by means of the cord or belt 30. The basin is to be filled with a disinfecting liquid or with a liquid which disinfects and tans at the same time. For the former purpose the following solution may be used to advantage Chlorid of sodium 10 parts Mercurio chlorid 1 Water 1000 and for the combined tanning and disin- `fecting process Iodid of potassium 4 parts Pure iodin 2 Water 1000 If by the described means catgut cords are to be spun, the ends of the skins are looped and placed over the glass rod 27 at the one side and over the glass rod 25 at the other side. Without manual handling the loops are then singly removed from the glass rod 25 and distributed over the hooks 35, 36 (of which obviously there may be more than the two shown). By turnlng the* crank handle 29` the spindles 33, 34 are rotated and the cords twisted together. The looped ends of the finished cords are then slid over the glass rod 24 and this latter and the rod 27 removed into a drying chamber.

The device shown in Figs. 1-3 serves not only for spinning the threads, but also for drying the finished product. It consists mainly of the drum 1 resting on a support 2 with feet 3, and provided with a gasand watertight cover 4. The central tube 5 isperforated, extendsv externally as" at 7 and runs out into a funnel 6. A source of heat 8, of any suitable construction, is arran ed below the funnel, the hot air entering t e tube 7, 5 and issuing through perforations 5 into the drum. The used air escapes through suitably provided openings 38. At the one end of the drum is secured at .11 a disk 9 provided with a number of hooks 12. A similar disk 10 is provided at the other end of the drum, whose hooks 14 form the ends of short shafts 13, journaled in the disk 10 and the adjacent drum head and carrying on the other, projecting ends small pulleys l5,- Upon the'stud 16 is secured the larger pulley 17 with crankhandle 18. An elastic belt 19 runs over the central pulley and one or several of the smaller pulleys. Obviously, any other suitable driving means may be used for the purpose of revolving one Aor more ofthe shafts 13.

The loop-ended catgut threads are attached to the hooks 12, 14 and are twisted together by manipulation of the crank handle. The drum may be filled With a suitable disinfecting medium, Which may be liquid or gaseous. l/After formation of the cords, the liquid may be run off through cock 37, or the gas is allowed 'to escape through the vents 38 in the cover 4, and hot air is turned into the drum for drying the product.

Thematerial throughout its. treatment is not exposed to manual touch or other septic influences and is rendered absolutely and lastingly sterile, the sterilizing medium being forcibly squeezed in between the twists or turns, so to speak.

It Will readily be understood that my invention is not necessarily restricted to the use of the particular construction of devices shown and described, but it may be similarly carried out With the same effects in .apparatus of other construction.

1. The hereindescribed method for manufacturing sterile catgut ligatures, consisting in mechanically Working-up the material Within a disinfecting medium, substantially as set forth.

2. Method for manufacturing sterile catgut cords, consisting in twisting the material together to form a cord Within a disinfecting medium, substantially as set forth.

3. Method for manufacturing sterile catgut cords, consisting in mechanically Working-up the material Within a disinfecting 40 and tanning medium, substantially as set forth.

4. Method foinmanufacturing sterile catgut cords, consisting in twisting together the material within a suitable protective medium, removing the excess of the latter and then suitably drying the product, substantially as set forth.

5. Method for manufacturing sterile catgut cords, consisting in twisting` together the material Within al suitable disinfectant, removing the excess of the latter, and then drying the product, all Within the same receptacle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my Yname to this specification in the4 presence of 

